By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The body of a Butlerville man missing since Tuesday in floodwater along Hwy. 236 West in Lonoke County near the Woodlawn community was found around 4 p.m. Friday.
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office and rescue crews recovered the body of Carl Hess, 56. The body was in the water 150 yards west of where his truck was found on the highway west of Glover Road.
Members of the sheriff’s office, along with the Game and Fish Commission, the Tri-Community, South Bend and CS and Z Volunteer Fire Departments and the Cabot Fire Department dive team, were involved in finding Hess.
The search for Hess began four days ago after he drove his white Chevy Silverado past the barricade and cones blocking Hwy. 236 West due to flooding.
The water was two to three feet deep on the roadway and deeper in the ditches where Hess’ truck had stopped in the rapid-flowing waters.
Hess called his wife, Patricia, on his cell phone at 7:19 a.m. and told her he needed a change of clothes. Hess said he was going to walk toward home and got out of his truck.
His son and son-in-law went to the area and did not find Hess. It was the last time anyone had heard from Hess. The sheriff’s office and rescue crews went to the scene around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
By Friday, the high water on Hwy. 236 West receded and the road was open to drivers.
Hess had five children and three stepchildren. He was a groundskeeper for the VA Hospital in North Little Rock.
